SANTA PAULA : 3 Held After Homes Searched in Slaying

Santa Paula police searched the homes of five suspected gang members Wednesday for evidence relating to the unsolved drive-by slaying last week of a man who had just been released from jail.

As a result of the early morning searches, police arrested Phillip Bolanos, 24, and two unnamed juveniles on charges unrelated to the death of Brian Gutierrez.

Bolanos was arrested on suspicion of being under the influence of a controlled substance. The two juveniles were arrested on suspicion of probation violation and possession of a weapon. Those arrested are suspected gang members, police said.

Gutierrez, 20, of Santa Paula was killed Sept. 23 in what officials said was the city’s first fatal drive-by shooting, a few hours after his release from Ventura County Jail.

Santa Paula Police Chief Walter H. Adair said the searches were conducted at the residences of individuals seen in a vehicle matching the description of a truck used by the assailant.

Adair said the individuals are believed to be the same ones seen arguing with Gutierrez two hours before he was killed.

Adair said the searches were necessary because witnesses to the homicide were unwilling to assist the investigation.

“The problem we have is the witnesses are not telling us the whole truth” about the slaying, Adair said. “It’s made our investigation very difficult.”

Officers conducting the searches found a significant amount of written material and other evidence that police are still evaluating, he said.

“At this time we are not saying if we found anything that ties them to the homicide,” Adair said.

Santa Paula police were assisted by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, Ventura County district attorney’s office and Ventura County Probation Department in conducting the searches.